Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Belligerent
Country
Libya
start date
end date
Civilian Harm Status
Belligerent Assessment
Declassified Documents
Infrastructure

Incident Code

LC078

Incident date

March 4, 2018

Location

الزنتان, Al Zintan, Derna, Libya

Geolocation

32.75591, 22.637772 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between three and five civilians were reportedly injured in what was described as indiscriminate LNA artillery shelling on the Al-Zintan neighbourhood in western Derna.

@Abo_moslem4036 reported a “random bombardment” at the west of the entrance to the Darna al-Zintan neighbourhood, which injured three women, a child and a man.

@deskdrnoe cited the LNA for bombing a residential area.

Libya Observer said the four civilians were injured by “heavy artillery shelling” by fighters loyal to Haftar. Citing local authorities, the Observer said that a “wife and a husband, as well as their daughter”, were injured.

Libya al Akhbar reported that three civilians were injured “in an artillery attack carried out by gunmen” loyal to the LNA. The report said the artillery had his Al-Zintan neighbourhood, and that one of the shells directly hit the house of Jamal al-Kubailit, which led the injury of his wife and daughter.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    3–5
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Libyan National Army

Sources (6) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the neighbourhood of Al Zintan (الزنتان), allegedly located in the western entrance of Derna (درنة) city. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further. The generic coordinates for Derna are: 32.75591, 22.637772.

Libyan National Army Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Libyan National Army
  • Libyan National Army position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    3–5
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Libyan National Army

Sources (6) [ collapse]

Incident Code

LC077

Incident date

February 28, 2018

Location

سبها‎, Sabha, Libya

Geolocation

27.038804, 14.426567 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

At least six civilians were killed in Sabha during fighting between rival armed groups, Reuters reported.

Reuters reported that LNA and rival groups fought in the vicinity of Sabha, leading to the deaths of at least six civilians. 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    6
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Libyan National Army

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the city of Sabha (سبها‎), for which the generic coordinates are: 27.038804, 14.426567. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Libyan National Army Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Libyan National Army
  • Libyan National Army position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    6
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Libyan National Army

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Incident Code

LC076

Incident date

January 7, 2018

Location

South of Sirte, Sirte, Libya

Geolocation

30.431401, 16.544536 Note: The accuracy of this location is to District level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Two decomposed bodies were found in a vehicle, reportedly victims of an earlier airstrike.

Qnat Aljamahiriya reported that two decomposed bodies were found by camel breeders. The bodies were in a four-wheel drive video, which had evidently been targeted in the “desert southwest of Sirte.” Based on the report, it appeared the men had died weeks earlier.

Several other sources, including Sebha now and Abdalslam Farag Almahde, reported identical language.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0 – 2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Unknown

Sources (6) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention a vehicle being struck south of Sirte (سرت), for which the generic coordinates are: 30.431401, 16.544536. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Unknown Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Unknown
  • Unknown position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0 – 2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Unknown

Sources (6) [ collapse]

Incident Code

LQ064

Incident date

December 28, 2017

Location

بنغازي‎, Sidi Kharibesh, Benghazi, Libya

Geolocation

32.125, 20.063889 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Several sources reported airstrikes on Sidi Akhrebish by either LNA, Egypt or UAE. One source claims Egyptian F-16s or Rafales were involved.

However, some local sources described what they said was “Indiscriminate shelling by heavy weapons on the area of Akhrebish this day by the LNA militia.” And Libya Today TV noted what it said was the “destruction of infrastructure and public and private property of citizens.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Egyptian Military, Libyan National Army, United Arab Emirates Military

Sources (5) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

Egyptian Military Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Egyptian Military
  • Egyptian Military position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Libyan National Army Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Libyan National Army
  • Libyan National Army position on incident
    Not yet assessed

United Arab Emirates Military Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    United Arab Emirates Military
  • United Arab Emirates Military position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Egyptian Military, Libyan National Army, United Arab Emirates Military

Sources (5) [ collapse]

Incident Code

LQ063

Incident date

December 10, 2017

Location

بنغازي‎, Municipal hotel, Benghazi, Libya

Geolocation

32.123611, 20.070833 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Exact location (via Airwars) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Civilian infrastructure in Benghazi was targeted by LNA strikes, according to local sources
Libya Today TV reported that an LNA strike in central Benghazi – in the Akhribesh area – resulted in the destruction of “infrastructure and public and private property of citizens.”

Ayon Benghazi reported strikes in the vicinity of a hotel, and several other outlets reported strikes in Akhribesh.

At the moment there are no monitored reports of civilian casualties.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Libyan National Army

Sources (5) [ collapse]

Libyan National Army Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Libyan National Army
  • Libyan National Army position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Libyan National Army

Sources (5) [ collapse]

Incident Code

LQ062

Incident date

December 3, 2017

Location

بنغازي‎, Sidi Kharibesh, Benghazi, Libya

Geolocation

32.125, 20.063889 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

LNA MiGs reportedly conducted heavy airstrikes in Sidi Akhribesh and the Afet neighbourhood near the hotel, which were described by one source as “the last strongholds of the terrorists.”

There were no public reports of civilian harm at the time.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Libyan National Army

Sources (9) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

Libyan National Army Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Libyan National Army
  • Libyan National Army position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Libyan National Army

Sources (9) [ collapse]

Incident Code

LQ061

Incident date

November 22, 2017

Location

الحدود الليبية المصرية, Libyan-Egyptian border, Libya

Geolocation

29.3223255, 24.7302246 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Subdistrict level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Various sources reported Egyptian airstrikes destroying 10 vehicles allegedly loaded with ammunition and weapons at the Libyan side of the border.

“‘The air force has dealt a new blow to smugglers and infiltrators across the border,’ preventing them from bringing weapons and ammunition into Egypt, army spokesman Tamer al-Refai said in a statement posted on Facebook”, according to Middle East Online.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Suspected attacker
    Egyptian Military

Sources (6) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (3) [ collapse]

  • Images: Akhbar Libya 24

Egyptian Military Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Egyptian Military
  • Egyptian Military position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Suspected attacker
    Egyptian Military

Sources (6) [ collapse]

Incident Code

LQ060

Incident date

November 1, 2017

Location

ورشفانة, Wershafana, Jafara, Libya

Geolocation

32.55048, 12.981661 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Subdistrict level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Facebook sources reported “indiscriminate” shelling of Wershefana, 45km from Tripoli, with a BM-21 Grad.

According to one source, Amany El Weshahy, the attack displaced civilians from the area. However there were no reports at the time of civilian harm.

The War is Boring blog also reported artillery shelling but with Chinese GP1 laser-guided ammunition which was it said was first misidentified by Libya Times as a Raytheon Excalibur.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Libyan National Army

Sources (4) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

Libyan National Army Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Libyan National Army
  • Libyan National Army position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Libyan National Army

Sources (4) [ collapse]